MOF-derived cobalt sulfide particles decorated on N,S-codoped carbon as electrocatalysts for hydrogen production from water

Carbon-coated sulfides have arisen as effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to their unique electronic structure and high catalytic activity. However, incorporating two different dopants into the carbon matrix and ensuring uniform coating on the sulfide surface requires precise control and remain a challenge. Herein, using a Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (Co-ZIF) as both the Co source and the nano structural template, Co₉S₈ particles decorated on N,S-codoped carbon (Co₉S₈@NSC) have been synthesized by sequential oxidation-sulfidation strategy. High porosity and tunable structure of Co-ZIF allows for precise control over the morphology and composition of the material, resulting in a uniform coating of Co₉S₈ on the N,S-codoped carbon. Meanwhile, the doping of nitrogen and sulfur into carbon can modulate the electronic properties and surface chemistry of the carbon support, further enhancing the interaction between the catalyst and reactants. As expect, Co₉S₈@NSC exhibits an overpotential of 201 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. Interestingly, Co₉S₈@NSC also displays good stability with negligible potential loss for 10 h at the current density of 10 mA cm⁻².